Darcy’s Voyage
Page 44
Darcy and Elizabeth agreed to make the visit and when they arrived, they could not believe how gravely ill their aunt was. Despite her condition, she continued to make demands and let her strong opinions be known. She did, however, struggle through an apology, which Darcy later reflected must have been the most difficult thing she had ever been required to do.
It was a great surprise, then, that Lady Catherine seemed to recover from her close call with death. Apparently, she had not been as ill as everyone surmised and she lived another five years. Whilst her behaviour did not improve completely, she was very attentive to the things of which she spoke in the presence of her nephew, not wishing to give him any cause to contact their attorney.
Darcy and Elizabeth sailed frequently on Pemberley’s Promise II, making stops in ports around England, Scotland, and Ireland, and then sailing across the Channel to visit different ports in Europe. Sometimes they travelled alone and at other times they brought Charles and Jane, Georgiana and her husband, or some other family members or friends.
Neither forgot the greater ship, Pemberley’s Promise, and on a rare occasion, when they were at the harbour or out at sea, they would see her moored at the dock or elegantly sailing by. She was a beautiful ship and never ceased to cause both Darcy’s and Elizabeth’s hearts to flutter just at the sight of her.
The sign they removed from the grand ship’s dining room was hung on the wall above their bed in Pemberley’s Promise II. It was a constant reminder to them of the vows and promises they made to each other that day while crossing the Atlantic on Pemberley’s Promise.
The End
Acknowledgments
I must thank a few people who helped me through this journey. First of all, thanks to my Australian friend, Sharni, who I trusted implicitly for advice on each chapter of this book when it was first written. Thanks also to Roya and Mary Anne, who were a great help to me in editing and cleaning up my sentences. Thanks to Philippa from Derbyshire, England, who gave me a beautiful description of that county and what a small village like Lambton may have looked like in the nineteenth century. Thanks to Deb Werksman and Sourcebooks, who took a chance with me and gave me the opportunity to publish this book. Finally, thanks to all who read this story when it was first written and self-published, and encouraged me along the way.
About the Author
Kara Louise grew up in Los Angeles, but now lives on ten acres just outside Wichita, Kansas, with her husband, Dan. She is the author of half a dozen successful Jane Austen-related novels. Visit her website at www.karalouise.ahhhs.net.
Table of Contents
Front Cover
Title Page
Copyright
Table of Contents
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Epilogue
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Back Cover